Discern (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discerned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discerning.] [F. discerner, L. discernere, discretum; dis- + cernere to separate, distinguish. See Certain, and cf. Discreet.] 1. To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.
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To discern such buds as are fit to produce blossoms. Boyle.
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A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not discern from a right stone. Robynson (More's Utopia).
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2. To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a difference.
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And [I] beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. Prov. vii. 7.
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Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to discern the minute texture of visible objects. Beattie.
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I wake, and I discern the truth. Tennyson.

Syn. -- To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate; discriminate; espy; descry; detect. See Perceive.
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